Strapping tool



p 29, 1964 w. A. MEIER 3,150,694

'STRAPPING TOOL Filed 8. 31, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mnmmn """IIIHHII ll 0e 7/0732/ %z&' 0 at rzezez w. A. MEIER STRAPPING TOOL,

Sept. 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1961 W. A. MEIER STRAPPING TOOL Sept. 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 31, 1961 jazz/22x70) Mm 4 7% WW M/M United States Patent ,Ofiice 3,150,694 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 3,150,694 STRAPPING TOOL William A. Meier, Roselle, Ill., assignor to Signode Steel Strapping Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 135,289 12 Claims. ((31. 14093.4)

The present invention relates to a strapping tool and, more particularly, to an integrated tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing ligatures such as steel strap.

There are many techniques for applying strap to packaging or other environmental situations where it is desirable to hold or secure an assemblage of pre-organized material or loose material. In this specification, the discussion will be with reference to applying a strap to a package by circumscribing the same with the strap, drawing the strap taut and securing overlapping portions of the strap together. But it should be understood that tools embodying this invention may be utilized in any desired strapping environment.

When a package is secured by a strap, the package is circumscribed by the strap so that the strap has overlapping portions. These overlapping portions are enclosed in a seal structure which circumscribes the same, the strap is tensioned to a pre-selected tautness about the package, the seal and the overlapping strap portions therein are crimped to secure the same together and the excess strap externally of the seal is sheared. Shearing permits the use of continuous strap as the same may be supplied from a reel, rather than the use of pre-cut lengths of strap.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings and described in detail hereinbelow, all of the foregoing functions are performed. The tensioning is performed by pulling the excess strap forming the outer of the overlapping portions through the seal while pushing against an edge of the seal. During the tensioning operation the nose of a guide on the frame of the tool bears against the edge of the seal to push the seal as the outer strap is pulled longitudinally thereof.

The other edge of the seal bears against a stop formed on the lower or inner of the overlapping portions of the strap. This stop may be formed in a number of ways, but the illustrated one which is quite convenient is formed merely by bending back the lower or inner end of the strap.

When the strap has been tensioned, the crimping and shearing portions of the mechanisms are actuated to crimp the seal and the overlapping strap portions and to cause shearing or severing of the strap along and by the edge of the seal against which the pushing force is applied. This is done by underlying the excess portion with a foot, the toe of which is disposed adjacent to or bears against the seal, and bringing a backing plate to bear against the outer surface of the seal adjacent to the same edge so that the excess portion of strap is forced outwardly or is held while the edge of the seal is pushed or bent inwardly to cut the strap along the edge of the seal.

The tool is structurally arranged so that the crimping mechanism and the tensioning mechanism are pivotally mounted on the frame. The shearing backing plate is reciprocably mounted on the frame. The pivotal mounting of the crimping and tensioning mechanisms permits ready and convenient pivotal movement of the operating mechanisms out of their operative position with respect to the frame for disposition of the tool on the strap and seal and for removal of the tool therefrom. The mechanism is so arranged that when the crimping assembly is pivoted out of the pre-selected operating position therefor it cannot be operated and the tensioning mechanism will not engaged the strap or be effective to tension the strap.

The tool is also arranged to provide maximum strap tautness by having a minimum of tool parts engaging the underside of the strap or seal between the same and the package. In most integrated tools, the foot of the tool is disposed between the strap and the package. Tools embodying this invention, however, may be arranged so that the foot underlies only the excess strap and so that only a small portion of the crimping jaws are but temporarily under the outer lateral edges of the seal.

While there is described herein an integrated tool operative to tension, crimp and sever the strap, it should be appreciated that features of the present invention may be employed in less complete tools which do not perform all of the functions described herein.

The foregoing, as well as numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and an illustrative embodiment thereof, and from the drawings in which each and every detail shown is incorporated herein as a part of the specification in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a tool embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational View of the tool of FIG. 1 with parts thereof broken away and other parts thereof shown in section to more clearly illustrate various operating parts of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1, with a portion thereof broken away to better illustrate other parts thereof and shown in operating position with respect to strap and a package;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental side elevational view showing the opposite side from that illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view of the crimping operation of the mechanism taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the mechanism in its actuated position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmental illustration of the pivot mounting portion of the mechanism with parts thereof broken away to better illustrate other parts thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the mechanism in a pivoted position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmental illustration of the pivot assembly of the mechanism viewed at right angles to the illustrations of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 (on sheet 1 with FIGS. 1 and 2) is a side elevational view of the main frame of the tool;

FIG. 11 (on sheet 3 with FIGS. 5-9) is a fragmental sectional view of the shearing portion of the mechanism viewed substantially along the line 1111 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 (on sheet 1 with FIGS. 1 and 2) is a fragmental illustration of the shearing portion of the mechanism viewed at right angles to FIG. 11, substantially along the line 12l2 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 (on sheet 1) is a sectional view of sealed and sheared strap taken along the shearing edge of the seal; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 (on sheet 2) are fragmental illustrations of the interlock mechanism.

There is illustrated in the drawings an integrated strap tensioning, seal crimping and strap shearing tool forming an illustrative embodiment of this invention and operative in accordance with the invention. The particular tool 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is a pneumatically operated tool although the tool could be electrically operated or hydraulically operated if so desired.

The tool 10 has a main frame 11 shown in side elevation in FIG. 10. The frame has an upright portion 12 on which the operating parts of the shearing mechanism are mounted, and a base or foot 13 terminating at its forward end in a toe-like structure 14. The upright portion of the main frame is transversely apertured near its upper end to provide a mounting space 15 for a main pivot shaft 16 shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8. The pivot shaft 16 carries the tensioning assembly 17 and the crimping assembly 18 for pivotal movement with respect to the frame 11 and in cooperative relation to the foot 13 thereof.

The tensioning mechanism assembly 17 includes a pneumatic motor 19 controlled by a valve operator 20 which receives air from any desired source. The details of construction of the air motor and the valve operator 20 for controlling the same are not described or illustrated herein, inasmuch as the details thereof form no part of the instant invention and any desired rotary air motor and control may be employed. The housing for the air motor is assembled with a gear housing 21 so that gearing within the housing 21 may receive rotary motion and power from the air motor 19 and transmit that motion and power by an output shaft 22 journaled on bearings 23, to a knurled strap engaging and tensioning wheel 24. The motor 19, the gear housing 21 and the knurled tensioning wheel 24 are secured together and mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot shaft 16 by receiving an end of the pivot shaft in the gear housing and by the journal bearing in a supporting link 25 on the pivot shaft 16 and on the main drive shaft 22 for the knurled wheel 24.

The knurled wheel 24, in operating position, overlies a wear button 26 secured in the foot 13 and is arranged to bear on the outer excess portion 27 of a strap 28 extending about and circumscribing a package 29. The strap is arranged so that overlapping portions 30 and 31 thereof are threaded through a seal 32 and so that the free end 33 of the strap 28 is bent back to provide a stop which prevents removal of the seal 32 from the free end of the strap. The bent back or stop portion of the strap thus provides an appropriate arrangement for abutment by the forward end of the seal during the tensioning operation.

For tensioning, the tensioning assembly 17 is pivotally raised with respect to the foot 13 in a manner hereinafter described and the excess portion 27 of the strap is disposed on the foot and under the knurled wheel 24. When the wheel is lowered onto the strap it grips the strap to pull the upper, outer, overlapping strap portion through the seal when the air motor 19 is energized for rotation of the wheel. As the wheel rotates to pull the excess strap from the loop of strap circumscribing the package 29 the toe 14 on the foot of the main frame and the nose of a guide 61 secured to frame bear against the rearward edge 34 of the seal. As tensioning continues, the seal bears against the stop end 33 and all excess strap is pulled through the seal until the strap is tensioned to a predetermined tautness. The strap tautness may be controlled by the operator of the machine or by a preestablished adjustment of air pressure or motor efliciency.

When the strap is tensioned, the crimping and shearing mechanisms are brought into operation. These mechanisms include a driving cylinder-piston assembly 35 which is energizable by actuation of a valve 36 by depressing the rearward end of a valve operator 37 pivotally mounted on the gear housing 21 for movement of a valve stem 38 in the valve 36 when the forward end 39 of the actuator 37 raises.

Some of the details of the valve 36 are shown in FIG. 2 wherein it may be seen that the valve stem is arranged with a plurality of valve sleeves 40 disposed in a bore 40a in the cylinder wall. The individual sleeves are sealed in the bore by 0 rings disposed between the sleeves thereby providing a simplified, effectively sealed valve sleeve assembly.

The valve operates in such a manner that when the valve stem is moved upwardly, the air will be admitted to the top of the cylinder to drive the piston 41 down and thereby move the piston rod 42 downwardly. A spring 43 at the upper end of the valve stem 38 returns the valve stem to normal position when the pivoted actuator 37 is released. In this position of the valve stem the piston 41 and piston rod 42 are pneumatically returned to their raised position as shown in FIG. 3 and air is exhausted from the space above the piston. Air is supplied to the valve by any convenient means such as a direct connection to an air source or as herein illustrated, a pneumatic connection 44 from the valve to a T and regulator in the air line ahead of the motor valve.

The valve and the cylinder-piston assembly carry the crimping jaw and linkage arrangement which is secured to a pair of ears 45 depending from the cylinder housing and which are apertured to pivotally receive the pivot shaft 16.

The crimping jaw mechanism is secured to the ears 45 by a pair of machine screws 46 that extend through apertures in a pair of inner and outer face plates 47 held apart by spacers 48 through which the screws extend. Within the space between the face plates 47, the exposed end or lower end of the piston rod 42 is pivotally connected to a pair of links 48 and 49 by a pin 50 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The opposite ends of the links 48 and 49 are connected to opposed crimping jaws 51 and 52, the lower ends of which are mounted on fixed pivot screws 53 and 54 which extend through apertures in the face plates and are secured in position. These pivot screws 53 and 54 also carry opposed notcher blocks 55 and 56. The lower ends of the crimping jaws and the lower faces of the notcher blocks 55 and 56 are configurated to crimp or notch the seal and the overlapping strap portions circumscribed thereby and disposed therein in any selected manner such as by a cut or notch-type crimp or a rolledtype crimp.

The crimping operation is effected when the piston rod 42 is moved downwardly by virtue of the linkage interconnection between it and the crimping jaws. As the piston rod moves downwardly, the upper ends of the crimping jaws are moved outwardly and the crimping jaws are pivoted about the pivot screws 53 and 54 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. At the same time, the lower ends of the crimping jaws move inwardly, grasp the outer longitudinal edges of the seal and move the same against the notcher plates. The cooperative relation between crimping jaws and the notcher plates provides for the formation of the selected type of crimping effected during the operation. Withdrawal of the piston rod 42 opens the crimping jaws by reverse linkage action.

The crimping and sealing mechanism is interrelated with the mechanism for effecting shearing of the excess strap 27 from the package, along and by the edge 34 of the seal. This mechanism includes a seal backing plate 60 mounted for reciprocating movement on a guide 61, which is secured to the main frame 11 at the forward edge of the upstanding portion thereof. The seal backing plate is normally resiliently biased upward by a spring 62 (see FIG. 3) seated on the guide 61 at the lower end of the spring and bearing against a rearwardly extending ear 63 at the upper end of the backing plate 60. A pinin-slot arrangement, including a pin 64 in the guide 61 and a slot 65 in the ear 63, provides for limiting reciprocal movement of the backing plate 60.

The front or outer face of the seal backing plate 60 is provided with a longitudinal recess 66 at its upper end to provide for a lost motion power connection between the backing plate 60 and the rearward end of the pivot pin 50 in the exposed end of the piston rod 42. The upper end of the recess 66 is open so that the pivot pin 50 may withdraw therefrom when the piston rod 42 is moved to its fully retracted position. The lower end of the recess 66, however, is closed for abutment with the surface of the pivot pin 50. This closed end is disposed along the length of the backing plate 60 in such position that as the piston rod 42 moves downwardly toward the limit of its stroke, the pin 51) will engage the bottom of the recess to move the plate 60 downwardly a sufficient extent to effect strap shearing.

Strap is sheared by bringing the backing plate 69 to bear on the upper or outer surface of the seal at the edge 34- of the seal, and further moving the backing plate to cause relative movement between the excess strap 27 and the edge 34 of the seal as the foot 13 of the main frame bears against the underside of the excess strap and the edge of the seal is bent down by the movement of the backing plate. This relative movement causes the strap to be sheared along and by the edge of the seal, thereby providing a clean seal joint with a minimum of excess strap material, and a shearing action with a minimum of wear on the parts of the machine.

When the piston rod 42 is raised, the spring 62 will return the seal backing plate 60 to its normal, raised, out-of-the-way position.

To facilitate strap shearing in the manner described and as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the seal backing member has a beveled edge 67 arranged angularly with respect to the surface of the seal to promote initiating the shearing action at the lateral edges of the strap with progressive shearing transversely of the strap. In the arrangement shown, the edge 67 is a straight edge to promote initiation of the shearing action at one lateral edge of the strap and for progressive shearing transversely of the strap to the opposite lateral edge thereof. Other backing plate edge configurations, such as arcuate or inverted V shapes, may be employed for faster or slower cutting action and/or for initiating shearing at both lateral edges with progressive shearing transversely toward an intermediate position of the strap.

As noted hereinabove, in general terms and from the specific descriptions of the tensioning assembly and the crimping assembly, both of these assemblies are pivotally mounted with respect to the main frame by being carried on the pivot shaft 16. These assemblies are resiliently biased toward their operating positions by a spring 70 disposed about the pivot shaft 16, with one end thereof engaging a pin 71 on an car 45 on the cylinder housing, and with the other end of the spring engaging a pin on the link 25 of the tensioning assembly.

The spring 70 biases the crimping mechanism in a counter-clockwise direction as the mechanism is viewed in most of the drawings (clockwise in FIG. 4) so that the crimping assembly is normally parallel to the front face of the frame with the inner of the face plates 47 bearing against the backing plate 66 and the guide rim 73 on the front face of the guide 61.

The tensioning assembly is normally biased in the opposite direction, clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8 of the drawings, about the pivot shaft and to a position where a stop gear 74 abuts a stop 75 on the main frame. When the tensioning assembly is in this position, the knurled wheel is over and immediately adjacent to the wear button in the foot. In this position, the knurled wheel is very close to the wear button and spaced therefrom, if at all, by a distance less than the thickness of the strap to be handled by the tool.

For positioning the tool with respect to a strap and seal arrangement for working the same, and for ready removal of the tool from the strap and seal, means are H provided for conveniently pivoting the tensioning assembly and the crimping assembly with respect to the frame. This means includes a handle bracket 76 pivotally secured to one of the depending ears 45 on the cylinder housing by a pivot pin 77. Below and rearwardly of the pivot pin 77, the bracket 76 is slotted at 78 to receive a pivot limit pin 79 fixed in an aperture 80 in the main frame, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 14 and 15.

The pivot limit pin 79 extends beyond the bracket 76 toward the gear housing 21 and is received in a recess 81 in a stop block or latch 82 pivotally secured by a pin 84 to ears 83 projecting from the housing 21 and forming a part of an interlock assembly which prevents strap tensioning if the tool is not properly disposed on the strap and seal. The stop block 82 is biased toward the pin 79 by a spring 85 disposed between the stop block 82 and the gear housing 21 near the upper, recessed end of the block with one end of the spring seated in a recess in the gear housing.

The pivot arrangement is effective so that the operator of the tool may grasp the tensioning motor 19 and the handle 86 projecting rearwardly from the bracket 76, with one hand. Squeezing these two members toward each other causes the motor, and the entire tensioning assembly, to pivot about the shaft 16 until the lower stop end of the recess 81 in the stop block 82 engages the pin 79. This position of the assembly is shown in FIG. 7. Comparison of FIG. 7 with FIG. 1 readily shows the relative movement of the tensioning assembly with respect to the main frame.

Further squeezing of the handle 86 and tensioning motor 19 toward each other causes the crimping assembly to pivot clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 8 where the upper end of the slot 78 in the bracket 76 engages the pin 7 9.

When the mechanism has been pivoted to a fully open position, it may be disposed readily in operative position on a strap. If the mechanism is properly placed thereon with the excess strap extending along the upper surface of the foot and under a biased locating retainer 87 at the rear end of the foot, and with the toe 14 of the frame and the nose of the guide against the edge 34 of the seal, the handle 86 and the motor 19 may be released by the operator and the mechanism will move by the force of the spring 70 to the position shown in FIG. 3. If the tool is not properly aligned and positioned with respect to the strap and seal, the lower end of the crimping mechanism will engage the upper surface of the seal and prevent return of the crimping mechanism to its normal operating position. In such instance, the valve pin 38 will be disposed immediately above a hole 88 in the actuator 37 so that the crimping mechanism cannot be operated. This prevents faulty or defective sealing and requires the operator of the tool to properly position the same for effective crimping.

In the event that the mechanism is not properly seated on strap and seal, tensioning strap is also prevented by the interlock mechanism. This safety measure obtains when the crimping mechanism is not properly seated over the seal. Under those circumstances, as the crimping mechanism is being lowered toward its operating position, the pin 79 is permitted to rise in the recess 81 until it meets the upper limit 81a of the recess in the stop block. When the crimping mechanism fails to move entirely to its operating position, the bracket 76 does not move to a fully raised position with respect to pin 79 so that the lower ends of the recesses 78 in the bracket do not engage the pin. This prevents a cam rise or ramp 76a on the bracket 76 from engaging the upper end of the stop block 82 whereby the stop block is permitted to hold on the pin 79 and the mechanism will be locked in the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 14. By so locking the mechanism, the tensioning assembly is prevented from pivoting down wardly since the stop block is hung-up on the pin 79 in the frame. Thus, unless the crimping assembly is properly lowered to its operating position, the tensioning knurled wheel cannot be brought to bear on the surface of the excess portion of the strap.

When the mechanism is moved to its operating position, the bracket 76 moves upwardly with respect to the pin 79 to the position shown in FIG. 15 from the position shown in FIG. 14. This causes the ramp or cam 76a to engage the upper end of the stop block 82 and push the same pivotally outwardly to release the stop block from the pin 79, the cam ramp 79a having a lateral tension at least as great as the lateral extension of the pin 79. Such release of the stop block 82 from the pin 79 releases the tensioning mechanism to permit downward pivotal movement thereof to engage the strap and knurled tensioning wheel.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that numerous modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts and principles of this invention.

I claim:

1. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a pivot shaft on said frame, a tensioning assembly including a drive motor, a gear housing and a tensioning wheel all secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, a crimping assembly including a driver and a crimping jaw mechanism secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, resilient means urging said tensioning assembly and said crimping assembly pivotally toward pre-selected operating positions with respect to said frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on said crimping assembly, stop means on said bracket and said frame limiting pivotal movement thereof with respect to assembly and cooperative with the first men on means limiting pivotal movement of said tensioning assembly away from said pre-selected operating position therefor.

2. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a pivot shaft on said frame, a tensioning assembly including a drive motor, a gear housing and a tensioning wheel all secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, a crimping assembly including a driver and a crimping jaw mechanism secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, a shearing backing member mounted for actuation by said driver, resilient means urging said tensioning assembly and said crimping assembly pivotally toward pre-selected operating positions with respect to said frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on said crimping assembly, stop means on said bracket and said frame limiting pivotal movement thereof with respect to each other and limiting pivotal movement of said crimping assembly away from the pre-selected operating position therefor, and supplemental stop means on said tensioning assembly and cooperative with the first mentioned stop means limiting pivotal movement of said tensioning assembly away from said pre-selected operating position therefor, said supplemental stop means including a pin mounted on and extending transversely of said frame and extending into an elongated recess in said tensioning assembly, said recess having a dimension radially of said pin greater than the radial dimension of said pin.

3. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a pivot shaft on said frame, a tensioning assembly including a drive motor, a gear housing and a tensioning wheel all secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, a crimping assembly including a driver and a crimping jaw mechanism secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, a shearing backing member mounted for actuation by said driver, resilient means urging said tensioning assembly and said crimping assembly pivotally toward pre-selected operating positions with respect tosaid frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on said crimping assembly, stop means on said bracket and said frame limiting pivotal movement thereof with respect to each other and limiting pivotal movement of said crimping assembly away from the pre-selected operating position therefor, and supplemental stop means on said tensioning assembly and cooperative with the first mentioned stop means limiting pivotal movement of said crimping assembly away from said pre-selected operating position therefor, said supplemental stop means including a pin mounted on and extending transversely of said frame and extending into an elongated recess in said tensioning assembly, said recess having a dimension radially of said pin greater than the radial dimension of said in, said first mentioned stop means including said pin and an elongated slot in said bracket, said pin extending through said slot, and said slot having a dimension radially of said pin greater than the radial dimension of said pin.

4. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a pivot shaft on said frame, a tensioning assembly including a drive motor, a gear housing and a tensioning wheel all secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, a crimping assembly including a driver and a crimping jaw mechanism secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, resilient means urging said tensioning assembly and said crimping assembly pivotally toward pre-selected operating positions with respect to said frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on said crimping assembly, stop means on said bracket and said frame limiting pivotal movement thereof with respect to each other and limiting pivotal movement of said crimping assembly away from the pre-selected operating position therefor, and supplemental stop means on said tensioning assembly and cooperative with the first mentioned stop means limiting pivotal movement of said tensioning assembly away from said pro-selected operating position therefore, said supplemental stop means including releasable means interconnecting said frame and said tensioning assembly.

5. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a pivot shaft on said frame, a tensioning assembly including a drive motor, a gear housing and a tensioning wheel all secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, a crimping assembly including a driver and a crimping jaw mechanism secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, resilient means urging said tensioning assembly and said crimping assembly pivotally toward pre-selected operating positions with respect to said frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on said crimping assembly, stop means on said bracket and said frame limiting pivotal movement thereof with respect to each other and limiting pivotal movement of said crimping assembly away from the pro-selected operating position therefor, and supplemental stop means on said tensioning assembly and cooperative with the first mentioned stop means limiting pivotal movement of said tensioning assembly away from said preselected operating position therefor, said supplemental stop means including releasable means interconnecting said frame and said tensioning assembly and means on said crimping assembly to release said releasable means when said crimping assembly is moved into proper operating positron.

6. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a pivot shaft on said frame, a tensioning assembly including a drive motor, a gear housing and a tensioning wheel all secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, a crimping assembly including a driver and a crimping jaw mechanismv secured together and pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, resilient means urging said tensioning assembly and said crimping assembly pivotally toward pre-selected operating positions with respect to said frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on said crimping assembly, stop means on said bracket and said frame limiting pivotal movement thereof with respect to each other and limiting pivotal movement of said crimping assembly away from the pre-selected operating position therefor, and supplemental stop means on said tensioning assembly and cooperative with the first mentioned stop means limiting pivotal movement of said tensioning assembly away from said pre-selected operating position therefor, said supplemental stop means including a pin on said frame extending transversely thereof, a latch pivotally connected to said tensioning assembly and having an elongated recess therein to receive said pin, means biasing said latch toward said pin, said recess having an upper limit effective to prevent said tensioning assembly from engaging the strap when said upper limit is engaged by said pin, and means on said bracket to release said latch from said pin when said crimping assembly is moved into operating position.

7. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a foot on said frame, said foot having a toe disposed adjacent to an edge of said seal, a tensioning assembly mounted on said frame and disposed to engage the outer of the overlapping portions of the strap and to pull the same through said seal with the toe on the foot of the frame maintained adjacent to the edge of the seal, a crimping assembly mounted on said frame, power means in said crimping assembly arranged to' drive the same to crimp the seal and the overlapping strap portions therein, a backing plate disposed to be driven by said power means and arranged to engage said seal adjacent to said edge thereof and to cause relative movement between said edge of said seal and said toe of said foot on said frame to shear said strap along and by said edge of said seal.

8. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a foot on said frame, said foot having a toe disposed adjacent to an edge of said seal, a tensioning assembly mounted on said frame and disposed to engage the outer of the overlapping portions of the strap and to pull the same through said seal with the toe on the foot of the frame maintained adjacent to the edge of the seal, a crimping assembly mounted on said frame, means on said frame to bear against said edge of said seal during operation of said tensioning assembly, power means in said crimping assembly arranged to drive the same to crimp the seal and the overlapping strap portions therein, a backing plate disposed to be driven by said power means and arranged to engage said seal adjacent to said edge thereof and to cause relative movement between said edge of said seal and said toe of said foot on said frame to shear said strap along and by said edge of said seal.

9. A strapping tool for tensioning, crimping and shearing strap having overlapping portions threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, a foot on said frame, said foot having a toe disposed adjacent to an edge of said seal, a tensioning assembly mounted on said frame and disposed to engage the outer of the overlapping portions of the strap and to pull the same through said seal with the toe on the foot of the frame maintained adjacent to the edge of the seal, a crimping assembly mounted on said frame, power means in said crimping assembly, arranged to drive the same to crimp the seal and the overlapping strap portions therein, a backing plate disposed to be driven by said power means and arranged to engage said seal adjacent to said edge thereof and to cause relative movement between said edge of said seal and said toe of said foot on said frame to shear said strap along and by said edge of said seal, said backing plate having a seal-engaging edge angularly disposed with respect to the outer surface of the seal to induce initiating the shearing action at an edge of the strap for progressive shearing transversely of the strap.

10. In a tool for shearing excess material from a strap having overlapping portions crimped together in a seal and for shearing the excess material along and by an edge of the seal, a frame, a foot on said frame arranged to underlie the excess material, a toe on said foot engageable with said seal at an edge of the seal to abut the same, a backing plate reciprocably mounted on said frame and having an edge arranged to engage the seal adjacent to the edge of the seal abutted by the toe of the foot, and

means to reciprocate said backing plate to cause relative movement of the foot with respect thereto and to cause shearing of the strap along and by an edge of the seal.

11. In a tool for shearing excess material from a strap having overlapping portions crimped together in a seal and for shearing the excess material along and by an edge of the seal, a frame, a foot on said frame arranged to underlie the excess material, a toe on said foot engageable with said seal at an edge of the seal to abut the same, a backing plate reciprocably mounted on said frame and having an edge arranged to engage said seal adjacent to the edge of the seal abutted by the toe of the foot, and means to reciprocate said backing plate to cause relative movement of the foot with respect thereto and to cause shearing of the strap along and by an edge of the seal, said backing plate having a seal-engaging edge angularly disposed with respect to the outer surface of the seal to induce initiating the shearing action at an edge of the strap for progressive shearing transversely of the strap.

12. A strapping tool for tensioning strap and crimping overlapping portions thereof threaded through a seal, comprising a frame, means on said frame to engage a portion of the strap and exert a force thereon longitudinally thereof, means on said frame to engage an edge of the seal and to exert a force thereagainst and cooperative with said means to engage the strap to tension the strap, means on said frame positioned to crimp said seal and overlapping portions of strap therein, and reciprocable means disposed to engage said seal adjacent to said edge thereof to cause severing of a portion of the strap along and by said edge of said seal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,076,276 Porter Apr. 6, 1937 2,097,946 Childress Nov. 2, 1937 2,281,438 Heslet et al. Apr. 28, 1942 2,312,400 Govanus Mar. 2, 1943 2,336,264 Leslie Dec. 7, 1943 2,882,934 Gerrard Apr. 21, 1959 3,021,876 Hall et al. Feb. 20, 1962 3,032,075 Hall et a1. May 1, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION- Patent No. 3,150,694 September 29, 1964 William A, Meier ertified that error appears in the above numbered pat It is hereby c ctio'n and that the said Letters Patentshould read as ent requiring corre corrected below Column 1, line 49, for "mechanisms" read mechanism column 10, list of References Cited add the following reference FOREIGN PATENTS 819,054 Great Britain Auga .26 1959 Signed and sealed this 15th day of December 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER At testing Officer 

7. A STRAPPING TOOL FOR TENSIONING, CRIMPING AND SHEARING STRAP HAVING OVERLAPPING PORTIONS THREADED THROUGH A SEAL, COMPRISING A FRAME, A FOOT ON SAID FRAME, SAID FOOT HAVING A TOE DISPOSED ADJACENT TO AN EDGE OF SAID SEAL, A TENSIONING ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND DISPOSED TO ENGAGE THE OUTER OF THE OVERLAPPING PORTIONS OF THE STRAP AND TO PULL THE SAME THROUGH SAID SEAL WITH THE TOE ON THE FOOT OF THE FRAME MAINTAINED ADJACENT TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAL, A CRIMPING ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, POWER MEANS IN SAID CRIMPING ASSEMBLY ARRANGED TO DRIVE THE SAME TO CRIMP THE SEAL AND THE OVERLAPPING STRAP PORTIONS THEREIN, A BACKING PLATE DISPOSED TO BE DRIVEN BY SAID POWER MEANS AND ARRANGED TO ENGAGE SAID SEAL ADJACENT TO SAID EDGE THEREOF AND TO CAUSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID EDGE OF SAID SEAL AND SAID TOE OF SAID FOOT ON SAID FRAME TO SHEAR SAID STRAP ALONG AND BY SAID EDGE OF SAID SEAL. 